Australia Research Articles

MO716: A Different Pet Test: The Relationship between Pet Ownership and Peritonitis Risk in the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS In the USA, 64% of homes have dogs or cats (38% dogs and 25% cats in 2017-8). As a home-based treatment, peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients run the risk of developing zoonotic diseases from their pets. The 2016 International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis Guidelines recommend that domestic animals should not be in the area while the PD exchange is performed. The primary aim of this study was to see how common it was for PD patients to have pets and to examine the association between pet ownership and peritonitis risk in the Peritoneal Dialysis and Outcomes Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS). METHOD PDOPPS is an international prospective cohort study of adult PD patients across eight countries—Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, the UK, and the USA. Patient demographics and comorbid conditions were collected at study enrolment and patient questionnaires collected information on household pets. Peritonitis episodes were collected using uniform and standardized data collection tools, procedures and processes. Risk of peritonitis was modelled using a Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for patient demographics, 14 comorbid conditions, serum albumin, and residual urine volume and stratifying on country and prior peritonitis episodes during follow-up. RESULTS In total, 3655 PD patients provided information about household pets (out of a total of 4473 participants who filled out patient questionnaires amongst a total of 12 447 eligible patients). Among patients who reported on pet ownership, the percentage of patients owning only dogs was 19%, only cats 7%, and 6% with dogs and cats. Most countries, including the USA, had less than 50% of PD patient households having pets, lower than the US general population. Notable differences could be seen between countries in the profile of pets at home, including low numbers of pet ownership in South Korea and greater numbers of dogs than cats in the USA, Thailand, Japan and the UK (Fig. 1). Over a median follow-up for this cohort of 14 months and a total exposure time of 55 475 patient-months, 1347 peritonitis episodes were detected with an overall peritonitis rate of 0.29 episodes/patient-year. Having pets was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.09 (95% confidence interval 0.96–1.25) compared to no pet ownership. Figure 2 compares various combinations of pet ownership to PD patients with no pets as the reference group. However, among patients who lived alone, the peritonitis risk associated with pet ownership versus no pets appeared elevated, especially for people who owned both dogs and cats, although the P-value for the interaction was 0.72 (Fig. 2). CONCLUSION Utilizing this large cohort study, our results suggest limited increased peritonitis risk with pet ownership was seen among patients who live with others. However, our findings do suggest that for patients who live alone, higher peritonitis rates may be seen in those who have a pet. While it would be prudent to ensure maintenance of a high level of hygiene, our results suggest that pet ownership should not be an obstacle to choosing PD.

Cultural competency preparedness in medical and health professions students ‐ a collaborative study involving anatomy departments at 20 international universities

IntroductionTraining in cultural competency skills of medical and health professionals has become an important element of school curricula. Evaluation is often performed via self‐assessment among student cohorts within one country. Only a few studies utilize any standardized and validated tests. Little is known about global comparisons of baseline levels of cultural competency preparedness among students in various health professions.The aim of the study is to assess the baseline level of cultural competency preparedness in junior medical and health professions students at 20 universities from around the world, utilizing a previously validated and standardized testing tool. Results from this study will aid medical educators in the assessment of the extent of cultural competency required to be included internationally in health education curricula.Methods436 medical and students from various health professions students from 20 universities world‐wide participated via an anatomy‐based student exchange program (80% preclinical medical students).The students were given a validated questionnaire (1) to assess their preparedness in reference to cultural competency prior to the start of the program. The students were also asked to self‐evaluate their cultural competency skills on a 5‐point Likert‐type scale (“none” to “a lot”) encompassing different areas of competency (e.g., knowledge, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, internal and external outcomes, attitudes). Data were analyzed in Excel for statistical analysis stratified by global region ‐ North America (NA), Europe (EUR), United Kingdom (UK), East Asia (EA), and Australia (AUS)ResultsData are presented as means (M) and their standard deviation.The highest self‐assessment mean was for attitudes toward different cultures (4.4 ± 0.7) and lowest for knowledge about other cultures (3.4 ± 0.8).Regarding the question of general preparedness, the average score was 2.93 (± 1.0) in the validated tool (5‐point Likert‐type scale, “very unprepared” to “well prepared”); 4.6% of students felt “very well prepared”, while 24% felt only “well prepared.” A comparison by region showed the highest scores were from NA (3.14 ± 1.1), and the lowest scores from the UK (mean 2.74 ± 0.9).Regarding preparedness to evaluate patients from different cultures, 7% of students felt “very well prepared”, and 24% felt “well prepared”. Comparison between regions showed that the highest scores were found in EUR (3.1± 0.9).Regarding preparedness to treat patients with limited language proficiency, 14% of students felt that they were “very well prepared” (2.6; ± 1.1). A breakdown by regions showed that the highest scores were found in EUR (2.78 ± 1.0).Regarding preparedness to treat patients from ethnic minorities, 17% felt they were “very well prepared”, and 31% felt “well prepared” (3.4 ± 1.1), with the UK scoring highest in this category (3.56 ± 1.1).DiscussionOverall, there appears to be a discrepancy among junior students’ self‐assessments of their cultural competency skills and of their preparedness to treat patients, when compared to standardized test results. Cultural preparedness was similar across the evaluated regions.The data reveal that most regions in the world can benefit from cultural competency training for junior medical and health professions students.Reference1. Green AR, Chun MBJ, Cervantes MC, Nudel JD, Duong JV, Krupat E, et al. Measuring Medical Students' Preparedness and Skills to Provide Cross‐Cultural Care. Health equity. 2017;1(1):15‐22.

China–ASEAN Relations January 2022 to March 2022: Chronology of Events

China–ASEAN Relations January 2022 to March 2022: Chronology of Events Chen Juan (bio) As a research institute based in Singapore, the EAI monitors developments in relations and interactions between China and the individual countries of Southeast Asia as well as the ASEAN grouping as a whole. This material is presented in the form of (i) a chronology of events and (ii) important documents. —the Editors JANUARY 2022 1st The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement enters into force for 10 of the participating countries (Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). For the remaining participating countries, the agreement will enter into force 60 days after they deposit their instrument of ratification with the RCEP Depositary. 10th Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announces at a press conference China’s support for Cambodia to resolve the issue in Myanmar. The remark is a response to a question related to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar on 7 January 2022. Cambodia, the ASEAN Chair in 2022, has been making efforts to invite Myanmar’s military junta to engage with ASEAN. The announcement makes China the second country, after Japan, to back Cambodia’s decision. 11th Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks on the telephone with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Xi has expressed readiness to foster new areas of collaboration such as new energy, low-carbon development, the digital economy and maritime cooperation. The Indonesian side welcomes investments from Chinese enterprises as well as cooperation in high technology and green areas. Both sides share updates on the construction of the Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Railway which has progressed smoothly and is expected to enter operation as planned. 13th Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds a telephone conversation with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Noting that bilateral trade has achieved encouraging progress in 2021, both sides agree to work together on improving the efficiency and convenience in the customs clearance of Vietnam’s exports of agricultural products to China. 17th The Fifth Manila Forum for China–Philippines Relations is held online with the theme “Hand in Hand for a Stronger and Reinforced China– Philippines Friendship”. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a keynote speech, promising to keep China’s door open to more agricultural products from the Philippines and to synergise the Belt and Road Initiative with the Philippines’ “Build, Build, Build” strategy. He also announces an additional grant of RMB100 million provided by the Chinese government to support the Philippines’ reconstruction of areas hit by typhoon Odette in December 2021. 19th The 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Tourism Ministers held in Cambodia notes that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect international travel to the APT region in 2021, as international visitors further declined by 39.4 per cent compared to 2020. Similarly, tourism receipts in 2021 dropped by 81.9 per cent compared to 2020. Ministers update each other on measures undertaken by their respective countries and discuss ways to collaboratively reopen the tourism sector. They welcome the endorsement of the ASEAN Guidelines for Hygiene and Safety for Professionals and the Communities in the Tourism Industry and the ASEAN Safe Travel Stamp, as efforts to enhance the trust of international travellers to Southeast Asia. FEBRUARY 2022 4th Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visits Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. At a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, she shares her plan to publish a book in Thailand introducing the history of the Communist Party of China, and to visit various parts of China to conduct research. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. They exchange views on the developments related to the South China Sea, US–China relations and the situation in the Asia Pacific region. Balakrishnan, together with two other ministers, accompanied Singaporean President Halimah Yacob for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. President Halimah is one of the 30 heads of state, governments and international organisations who attended the event. After the event, she meets respectively with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping, where both sides agree to expand...

ASCP's 2021 Choosing Wisely® Recommendations: A Proud Accomplishment.

Choosing Wisely® (CW) is a campaign to engage physicians and patients in conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments, and procedures. The campaign began in the United States in 2012 and in Canada in 2014, and now many countries around the world are adapting the campaign and implementing it. Currently, approximately 80 societies in the United States have published CW recommendations. Each recommendation is supported by clinical guidelines (when necessary), evidence-based ratinale, including information about when these tests or procedures may be appropriate. A deprescribing task force led by Chair Beier was created by ASCP in November 2018 after several conversations between ASCP leadership (notably, President J. Hirshfield) and Beier. Task force members comprise pharmacists practicing in academia, community, and long-term care settings. The chair also invited pharmacists from international countries (Canada and Australia) where deprescribing initiatives have a strong focus and scientific literature base. One of the primary goals for Chair Beier was to add ASCP's voice to the ABIM CW Campaign. Because ASCP is a membership association that represents pharmacists, health care professionals, and students serving the unique medication needs of older patients, by adding its name to the list of supporting partners, the organization makes a compelling argument to address deprescribing initiatives, tools, scientific literature, and resources to assist in initiating deprescribing conversations and their subsequent implementation.

My COVID teacher – pedagogy and technology: Frontiers of online teaching in the creative writing classroom

This article is an international collaboration of three creative writing tutors detailing our responses and practices in shifting from in-class to online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are three scholars working at three different institutions (University of British Columbia, RMIT University, and the University of Technology Sydney) across two countries (Canada and Australia). We present collective autoethnographic responses and offer a menu of pedagogical practices for designing courses and teaching creative writing online. While one tutor had sound pedagogical practice in blended teaching, making the transition to online course delivery seamless, two of the tutors had little experience with online teaching and course design so their shift to online teaching was seismic, which led to unexpected creative solutions. Our insights are reflected in our narratives and the personal experiences that we bring into this article. The result, as discussed in this article, demonstrates how sound creative writing pedagogy can be designed for the digital classroom, and perhaps offer a post-pandemic glimpse into the future of creative writing pedagogy. Our article is largely anecdotal – neither comprehensive nor does it collate data beyond our small pool – our aim is to contribute and continue a conversation that has supported us during the pandemic. We have written to one another, with one another, and against one another, trying to articulate how we teach creative writing now, in an effort that others can continue the discussion of what they think and feel, will happen – what is happening – to creative writing teaching at other universities, states and countries, in the transition (temporary and permanent) to considering online teaching and learning as a vital part of our pedagogy going forward.

Investigating teacher noticing and learning in Australia, China, and Germany: a tale of three teachers

Teacher noticing can be an important element in improving teaching and students’ mathematical success. While the focus of the international project Learning from Lessons was on teacher learning, in this paper we report what mathematics teachers noticed and claimed to learn through the process of planning, teaching, and reflecting on their lessons. The study involved teachers and research teams from three countries (Australia, China and Germany) with different cultures, contexts and pedagogies. The explicit goal of the current study was to identify commonalities and differences with respect to those aspects that teachers noticed during their teaching. A multiple case study with three teachers, one from each of the three participating countries, was conducted using prompting questions to facilitate teacher reflection. The process of defining and refining categories for teacher noticing was implemented in the methodology. The findings suggest that there were many commonalities across the cases despite the different cultural and individual backgrounds of the teachers. The specific topic and individual lessons as well as the teachers’ expectations based on their lesson planning seemed to influence what the teachers noticed in their teaching process. The study highlights the importance of attending to the situational aspects of teacher noticing and learning.

Development and implementation of a national online application system for cross-jurisdictional linked data

The Population Health Research Network (PHRN) is an Australian national data linkage infrastructure that links a wide range of health and human services data in privacy-preserving ways. The data linkage infrastructure enables researchers to apply for access to routinely collected, linked, administrative data from the six states and two territories which make up the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as data collected by the Australian Government. The PHRN is a distributed network where data is collected and managed at the respective jurisdictional and/or cross-jurisdictional levels. As a result, access to linked data from multiple jurisdictions requires complex approval processes. This paper describes Australia’s approach to enabling access to linked data from multiple jurisdictions. It covers the identification of, and agreement to, a minimum set of data items to be included in a unified national application form, the development and implementation of a national online application system and the harmonisation of business processes for cross-jurisdictional research projects. Utilisation of the online application system and the ongoing challenges of data linkage across jurisdictions are discussed. Changes to the data custodian and ethics committee approval criteria were out of scope for this project.

Can slogans prevent gambling harm?

Can slogans prevent gambling harm?

Population Genetic Structure of Ornatus Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Ornatus) in Indo-West Pacific Region

Panulinus ornatus is among the widest distributed spiny lobsters, the high-value seafood, and the major cultured species in several Indo-West Pacific countries. Five microsatellite markers were applied to investigate diversity, genetic differentiation, and population structure of ornate spiny lobster in Vietnam (VN), Australia (AU), and Sri Lanka (SR). P. ornatus population in AU exhibited highest genetic diversity, and SR population was the lowest one (number of effective allele; observed/expected heterozygous are 7.091±1.53; 0.787±0.11/0.819±0.05 and 6.568±1.88; 0.620±0.12/0.782±0.07, respectively). The FST value (0.006-0.012; P≤0.01) and DAPC analysis (BIC value =3) showed the disconnectivity between the three populations, while AMOVA test and clustering structure analysis showed low significant difference. Directional migration relative rates suggest that Vietnam population may act as a source for surrounding populations in the Indo-West Pacific. The present study provides data on the genetic characteristics and population structure of P. ornatus in the Indo-West Pacific.

EPPO Datasheet: Naupactus xanthographus

EPPO Datasheet: <i>Naupactus xanthographus</i>

The emerging intersection between marine spatial planning and ocean accounting: A global review and case studies

Ocean planning and management is often tasked with balancing multiple policy priorities, such as the growth of ocean-related sectors, conserving ecosystem health and biodiversity, and considerations of equity and inclusivity. Over the last two decades, aligning and operationalising such priorities has increasingly been addressed through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), which analyses and allocates human activities within the marine domain. In parallel, Ocean Accounting (OA) is an emergent framework that extends existing international accounting standards to better measure the contribution of the ocean to society and the economy. Both frameworks are ‘integrative’, combining knowledge from multiple domains, to support decision-making towards ocean policy objectives. Here, we present the first analysis of the intersection between MSP and OA, to identify operational opportunities and barriers for co-development. We present a global review of OA- and MSP-related activities and perform a SWOT analysis of their implementation within five case countries (Australia, Canada, Portugal, South Africa, and Thailand). We identified 26 countries that have completed, or progressing, OA and MSP, of which only two countries demonstrated an overlap between frameworks. Within countries with completed MSP, there were no clear links between the policy use-cases of both frameworks (i.e., focus on the ocean economy or ecosystem conservation). In-depth analyses of five countries identified both opportunities and barriers through similar policy drivers, data sharing and shared implementing institutions. As high-level policy intent and investment drives the increasing use of both frameworks, an understanding of their co-development advances integrated and evidence-based ocean governance.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical therapy practice for people with multiple sclerosis: A multicenter survey study of the RIMS network

BackgroundThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical therapy services for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is unknown. Therefore, the Special Interest Group for Mobility (SIG Mobility) of the European Network for Best Practice and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation (RIMS) has undertaken the initiative to examine the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on physical therapy services and physical activity participation in pwMS across Europe, Israel and Australia. ObjectiveTo describe the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on physical therapy practice from the perspective of the therapist. MethodsAn online survey was developed and conducted from December 2020 to July 2021. The survey (50 questions), included multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses. ResultsIn total, 215 physical therapists (PT's) from 9 countries (Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Turkey) participated in the study. The therapy most affected during the pandemic was aerobic training/conditioning exercises; 33.5% reported that these activities were either reduced or unavailable. In contrast, 15% of the PTs reported increased use of relaxation/mind body techniques and/or fatigue management programs during the pandemic. PTs reported a mixture of positive and negative feelings about the therapeutic sessions offered during the pandemic. Most reported positive feelings included “positive” (26.5%), and “optimistic” (24.7%). Negative feelings most frequently reported included “worried” (30.7%), and “hesitant” (20.9%). The PTs reported a 10% decrease in the use of hands-on techniques and a 10% increase in the use of oral instructions when treating moderately and severely pwMS during as compared to before the pandemic. ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected physical therapy services in pwMS internationally in terms of content, frequency of use and format.

Building a greener dining scene: how do veg-friendly restaurateurs “crop up”?

PurposeOf all industries, agri-food has one of the largest environmental impacts. Reducing the production and consumption of meat, dairy and seafood, and moving to predominantly plant-based diets, is key to lowering our environmental footprint. Veg-friendly restaurants play a key role in this transition as they have the capacity to build a greener dining scene (e.g. positively change consumer opinions towards vegan food). Hence, the purpose of this paper is to understand the entrepreneurial journey of veg-friendly restaurateurs.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed an inductive-qualitative approach to analyse 12 veg-friendly restaurants in three countries (Spain, Australia and Colombia). In addition to inspecting available data on the restaurants and their menus, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the restaurateurs to uncover (1) the impact of their venture for customers and society, (2) the drivers to establishing their businesses and (3) the challenges faced and strategies used in the management of veg-friendly restaurants.FindingsThis work recognises veg-friendly restaurateurs as key actors in building a sustainable future through a greener dining scene. The authors uncover the main drivers of the entrepreneurial journey and propose a multi-dimensional approach to identity and passion as key antecedents of entrepreneurial intention. The authors also discuss how social and sustainable entrepreneurship may be the expression of an activist behaviour. Finally, challenges and strategies to manage veg-friendly restaurants are discussed with directions that contribute to both theory and practice.Originality/valueA switch towards vegan and vegetarian diets has important implications for ecology, society and the economy. While most research has focused on the consumer side, this paper is unique in understanding how veg-friendly restaurants emerge. This is quite distinctive in the literature regarding sustainable restaurants, which until now, has focused on the managers' adoption of sustainable practices rather than the restaurateurs' entrepreneurial journey. This work additionally builds new insights in the entrepreneurship literature, through uncovering the motivations, experiences and challenges of entrepreneurs that, in most cases, show activist attributes.

Financial contagion intensity during the COVID-19 outbreak: A copula approach

The sudden and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a severe impact on financial markets and economic activities all over the world. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence and intensity of financial contagion during the COVID-19 outbreak. We use daily series of stock indexes of 10 Asian countries (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia and China) and 4 American countries (the United-States, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina) over the period starting from January 1st, 2014 to June 30th, 2021. Based on a copula approach, the results show that all studied markets are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the presence of financial contagion for all American and Asian countries. The results also show that contagion is more intense for American countries than Asian ones. These findings have practical implications, especially for investors, risk managers, and policy makers. The latter should continue to provide liquidity to the international market during this pandemic.

Innovative Development of Renewable Energy During The Crisis Period and Its Impact on the Environment

The article examines the innovative trends in the renewable power generation, taking into account the impact of crises, as well as the impact of renewable energy on air pollution in the world (environmental change). Hierarchical agglomerative and iterative methods of cluster analysis, as well as econometric models were used to test the hypotheses. Carbon dioxide emissions and renewable power generation for 78 countries during 2000-2020 are taken into account as the database of the study. The results showed that there are groups of countries with sharp, high, moderate and low growth rates of renewable power generation. In addition, the results of econometric analysis indicate that the growth of renewable power generation does not always cause a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. For a number of countries (Australia, Canada, Mexico, Poland) such connection is not essential at all. The results of the study can be useful in shaping and adapting environmental strategies around the world.

Reduction of dietary sodium to less than 100 mmol in heart failure (SODIUM-HF): an international, open-label, randomised, controlled trial

Dietary restriction of sodium has been suggested to prevent fluid overload and adverse outcomes for patients with heart failure. We designed the Study of Dietary Intervention under 100 mmol in Heart Failure (SODIUM-HF) to test whether or not a reduction in dietary sodium reduces the incidence of future clinical events. SODIUM-HF is an international, open-label, randomised, controlled trial that enrolled patients at 26 sites in six countries (Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and New Zealand). Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, with chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class 2-3), and receiving optimally tolerated guideline-directed medical treatment. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1), using a standard number generator and varying block sizes of two, four, or six, stratified by site, to either usual care according to local guidelines or a low sodium diet of less than 100 mmol (ie, <1500 mg/day). The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular-related admission to hospital, cardiovascular-related emergency department visit, or all-cause death within 12 months in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (ie, all randomly assigned patients). Safety was assessed in the ITT population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02012179, and is closed to accrual. Between March 24, 2014, and Dec 9, 2020, 806 patients were randomly assigned to a low sodium diet (n=397) or usual care (n=409). Median age was 67 years (IQR 58-74) and 268 (33%) were women and 538 (66%) were men. Between baseline and 12 months, the median sodium intake decreased from 2286 mg/day (IQR 1653-3005) to 1658 mg/day (1301-2189) in the low sodium group and from 2119 mg/day (1673-2804) to 2073 mg/day (1541-2900) in the usual care group. By 12 months, events comprising the primary outcome had occurred in 60 (15%) of 397 patients in the low sodium diet group and 70 (17%) of 409 in the usual care group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·89 [95% CI 0·63-1·26]; p=0·53). All-cause death occurred in 22 (6%) patients in the low sodium diet group and 17 (4%) in the usual care group (HR 1·38 [0·73-2·60]; p=0·32), cardiovascular-related hospitalisation occurred in 40 (10%) patients in the low sodium diet group and 51 (12%) patients in the usual care group (HR 0·82 [0·54-1·24]; p=0·36), and cardiovascular-related emergency department visits occurred in 17 (4%) patients in the low sodium diet group and 15 (4%) patients in the usual care group (HR 1·21 [0·60-2·41]; p=0·60). No safety events related to the study treatment were reported in either group. In ambulatory patients with heart failure, a dietary intervention to reduce sodium intake did not reduce clinical events. Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the University Hospital Foundation, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Parents’ experiences regarding neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic: country-specific findings of a multinational survey

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems, challenging neonatal care provision globally. Curtailed visitation policies are known to negatively affect the medical and emotional care of sick, preterm and low...

Capital Designs: Australia House and Visions of an Imperial London, by Eileen Chanin

Reviewed by: Capital Designs: Australia House and Visions of an Imperial London by Eileen Chanin Shuhita Bhattacharjee (bio) Capital Designs: Australia House and Visions of an Imperial London, by Eileen Chanin; pp. xviii– 474. Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2018, $49.95, $35.00 paper. Eileen Chanin's Capital Designs: Australia House and Visions of an Imperial London uncovers the detailed story of Australia's first diplomatic mission, examining the reasons behind its conception and the process of its construction. The Commonwealth House (later called the Australia House) was inaugurated in 1913—soon after the Federation of the six states of Australia (1901) and before the First World War—and its construction was completed in 1918. Parts 1 through 4 explain how Australia aimed to consolidate its global position through a conspicuous architectural presence in London, which formed the heart of the imperial network. Chanin explains how the building of Australia House was congruent with London's larger architectural restructuring—the construction of new thoroughfares through derelict areas in the form of the Holborn to Strand improvements at Aldwych. [End Page 148] From part 5 onwards, Chanin as an art historian describes in meticulous detail the technical aspects and political debates that underpinned the various artistic choices exercised while erecting this building. Her analysis suggests that the Australia House's architectural construction embodied an attempt at national self-definition. It was a result of the "heightened national sentiment that came with Federation" (35), and reflected how in the "approach … to buildings and urban environments" (46) the Australians "equip [themselves] … with the latest and the best, [while] the English are astonishingly content with the obsolete and the inconvenient … because they instinctively distrust the Entirely New" (qtd. in Chanin 46). It is useful to note how Chanin's overview implies in places that the motivation for, or character of, these architectural shifts—whether British or Australian—was often moral. For instance, Arthur Cawston, a British architect, called for London's restructuring to redress the separation of the rich and poor, and the Australia House was built in accordance with labor principles beneficial for workers. However, the book as a whole foregrounds a different kind of collusion—not moral, but material. Chanin complicates the conventional postcolonial understanding of the imperialist hierarchy that is supposed to exist between the colonizing nation and the colonized as she reveals how the imperial heartland and dominion merged in their desire for, and plans of, global visibility. Chanin notes that "concerned Londoners fretted over whether their city was an appropriate hallmark of Empire" when compared to "Paris, Berlin or Vienna" (xiv). Concurrently, the Australian Commonwealth showed similar international ambition, with its officials "developing what was then the world's newest country" and, "for the first time in the world's history … 'a Nation for a Continent, and a Continent for a Nation'" (25). Chanin notes how administrators across the colonial divide understood that "government rests upon finance" and that finance can be facilitated by architectural interventions (39). The new London roads were aimed at "easing congestion in order to advance commerce" (25), and the Australia House was designed so that the future High Commissioner could control the Australian national debt from there by tapping into London's flourishing "commercial life" (38). Interestingly, Chanin helps us deduce that the imperial center and colonial outpost agreed on the means to achieve the international visibility that they both sought: imposing and strategic architectural presence. As Chanin observes, Britain was "giddy with the pace of change" (xiv) in building technologies, and London was being positioned globally as "a frontier of architecture and urbanism" (xv). Similarly, "Australia needed lofty expression" (xvi), and the Australia House was "an expression of power … built as a centre and symbol for a new nation—in, and for, an imperial capital" (xv). This view of the pivotal and charged role of architecture was typical of the times, as echoed during the Seventh International Congress of Architects held in London in 1906. Though Chanin does not allude to it directly, the politico-cultural centrality of architecture to the process of colonialism and in the context of the Victorian era has received in-depth secondary attention elsewhere, in works by historians...

Law and Litigation for the Conservation of Forest Communities

Australia’s natural environment is in decline and under increasing threat. The extent and severity of biodiversity loss is highlighted by the second independent, 10-yearly review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (‘EPBC Act’). The Review points to climate change as a critical compounding danger — one to which Australia and its unique flora and fauna are highly vulnerable. In this article, we discuss the role of law in protecting and extending the public interest in nature conservation, with special focus on the forest context. The term ‘public interest,’ while complex in meaning, typically refers to public or community values, as opposed to private interests such as those of property rights holders. We consider the recent judgments in Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum Inc v VicForests (No 4) [2020] FCA 704 (‘Leadbeater’s Possum’) and Bob Brown Foundation Inc v Commonwealth of Australia [2021] FCAFC 5 (‘Great Forest’) with respect to the ongoing function of the Regional Forest Agreements (‘RFAs’) in exempting the operation of the EPBC Act. In light of the Review’s comment that Australia’s federal environmental law is not fit for purpose, as well as the gaps and limitations in the law revealed by the two court cases, we conclude that legal reform is needed. Without legal reform, there can be no guarantee that cumulative threats to forest biodiversity will be adequately managed because although the relevant legislation appears to embody principles of ecologically sustainable development on its face, it also prevents key decision-makers and operators from being held to account. The inescapable dependency of humans on nature means the insufficiency of environmental laws fundamentally concern us all.

A single Australia? Alan Atkinson’s narrative construction of late modernity

Across three key texts, the historian Alan Atkinson has projected an unease with twenty-first-century Australia into the past development of the Australian nation. Atkinson traces a ‘singularity’ from the ‘age of Australian Federation … fixed on the Centre as the pivot of a new national domain’. By the early twenty-first century, for him, the nation had become an all-consuming focus of identity, degraded by globalisation. Atkinson’s ‘single Australia’ is a claim with significant implications for the historiography of the emerging Australian Commonwealth and historicising the nature of late modern Australia. Atkinson’s focus on late modernity addresses a theme developed in international scholarship but one largely absent in Australian historiography. Assessing Atkinson’s narrative construction of singularity offers insights into the relationship between past and present described in historical narratives.